Federal Agencies

Washington — Registration is open for the fifth annual Safe + Sound Week, a national initiative of OSHA, NIOSH and a coalition of safety organizations – including the National Safety Council.

Washington — Responding to recent Executive Orders and directives from the Biden administration, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced changes to chemical risk evaluation policies under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act to “position EPA to move forward with actions to ensure the public is protected from unreasonable risks from chemicals in a way that is supported by science and the law.”

Washington — NIOSH has planned a series of free, confidential health screenings for current and former coal miners via the agency’s Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.

Washington — OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health is scheduled to meet Aug. 11.

Washington — OSHA is extending until Aug. 20 the comment period on its emergency temporary standard for COVID-19 focused on health care workers.

Washington — OSHA has revised its National Emphasis Program on COVID-19 and updated its Interim Enforcement Response Plan.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule that requires anyone who manufactures or imports 50 specified chemicals to report to the agency “certain lists and copies of unpublished health and safety studies” undertaken within the past decade.

Washington — OSHA has issued a directive on inspection procedures and enforcement policies for its COVID-19 emergency temporary standard covering health care workers.

Washington — NIOSH is seeking input on personal protective equipment use, availability, accessibility, acceptability and knowledge for “underserved” workers, according to a notice published in the June 24 Federal Register.

Washington — A coalition of 10 aviation industry groups led by Airlines for America, a trade association of U.S. passenger and cargo carriers, is requesting that the Department of Justice “commit to the full and public prosecution of onboard acts of violence” by passengers against airline employees.